Hearts’ Hearts Conference League defeat at Thun on Thursday was largely a story of their own mistakes, as they fell 3-1 in Switzerland despite a late consolation from Stuart Findlay. The result leaves the Scottish side with just one point from their opening three league-phase matches.
Wouter Vrancken’s squad arrived at Stockhorn Arena already missing 10 players through various ailments, and their evening worsened early when Jamie McCart turned a simple pass back into his own net in the 22nd minute. Under little apparent pressure, McCart’s attempt to return the ball to goalkeeper Beau Reus instead slipped past the keeper and into the corner.
First-half errors put Thun in control
Thun doubled their advantage in the 34th minute after another Hearts mistake. From a Hearts set-piece, the home side broke quickly and Nils Reichmuth delivered a cross from the right. Captain Stephen Kingsley stuck out a leg to clear but only succeeded in directing the ball to Brighton Labeau, who swept it in from 10 yards.
The match had earlier been halted shortly after kick-off by thick smoke from pyrotechnics in the crowd. When play resumed, Hearts winger Josh McPake had two efforts on goal, one angled drive saved comfortably by Niklas Steffen and a stronger attempt from 25 yards beaten away by the Thun goalkeeper. There was little sign of the defensive collapse to come.
Dursun adds third as Hearts struggle
Three minutes after the break, Reus made a diving save from Furkan Dursun and then an even better stop from Reichmuth. But the goalkeeper was beaten again in the 56th minute when Dursun got a toe to another Reichmuth cross. Nico Maier then raced clear of the Hearts defence on the hour but sent his chip wide.
Kingsley, already injured, was replaced by 19-year-old Matthew Gillies, who had been recalled from a loan spell at Stenhousemuir. Hearts’ threat was sporadic: Malachi Fagan-Walcott’s header from a Jordi Altena free-kick was brilliantly saved by Steffen, and Jan Bamert had a goal ruled out for offside in the 78th minute after Steffen tipped a Nassim Zoukit free-kick onto the bar.
Findlay finally headed in a consolation from another Altena free-kick in the 82nd minute, but it was too late to change the outcome.
Vrancken calls for unity after defeat
Hearts head coach Wouter Vrancken acknowledged the quality was lacking but urged his players to stay together. He noted the difficult circumstances surrounding the squad and said the only course of action is to keep working hard. While he accepted the performance was not good enough, he also expressed pride in what the team had achieved in the run-up to the match.
The defeat leaves Hearts with a single point from their three Conference League fixtures: a 1-1 home draw with Nordsjaelland and a 2-0 away loss to Trabzonspor. They will need to regroup quickly as they seek their first win in the competition.
